Fencing: Slow-mo Replay - Studio C

Welcome back to the World Fencing Championship here in beautiful Paris, France. We are down to the final contenders, Pierre Dedoux and Bartolomeo Palladino. If you're just joining us, we have seen an unbelievable display of fencing prowess tonight, with both men tied in the points. Let's join them now for their final bout. Pierre looking to strike early. Oh, and it's over! Pierre Dedoux has won it all, ladies and gentlemen. Let's play that back in slow motion. Bartolomeo advances, Pierre backing up, and now comes the cross, and yes, sparks! You often don't see those with the naked eye, but thank goodness for slow motion technology. Both sabers now locked, and Pierre throws Bartolomeo aside, and what's this? Yes, he is removing his regalia and tossing his mane of hair like a lion. Not to be outdone, Bartolomeo responds in like manner. Oh, and some very nice flair right there. You have to love Bartolomeo. Pierre now backs up, sidesteps a barrel, rolls it forward, Bartolomeo stops it, and yes, you probably missed this because it happened so fast, but a banquet hall was set up during the bout. Pierre now on top of the table, fencing around the banqueters. Bartolomeo, upset about the height difference, lunges. Oh, and there's some collateral damage. He does appear to be a minor character though, so no harm, no foul. Pierre now jumps over the sword of Bartolomeo. Very nice. And now he swings in return. Bartolomeo grabs a woman. Not a move you see too often anymore, but still very effective. Pierre jumping off the table with a very nice spin. Pierre now advances, fencing around the woman. Bartolomeo spins and recomposes himself, and oh, what's this? Yes, yes, it's a foot stomp. The only recourse that damsels in distress have to defend themselves. She falls in. Okay, that seems a little gratuitous, but she enjoys it, so there it is. Bartolomeo now enraged comes swinging at Pierre, who casually defends his person with a classic move known as the I don't even have to look at you, and to prove it, I'll have a drink defense. Very impressive. Bartolomeo though does not look pleased, and he winds up for a spin. Spinning, of course, is tactical suicide, but it's worth risking death because of how cool it makes you look. Bartolomeo comes out of the spin with a crushing swing, blocked by Pierre. Pierre now spinning in return. Bartolomeo just watches, and what is he doing? Yes, yes, he does it. A classic move. He sliced the candles clean in half. An oldie, but a goodie. Pierre now moving forward. Oh, Bartolomeo calling in for support. His cronies come rushing forward. Pierre's in trouble. And no, no, he gets up, and all go flying backwards as is customary. Pierre now dueling three men at once. Can he be even more of a man than he is right now? Punch the face. Very unfortunate for that crony. That man backed into a wall. And now all three men foolishly strike at the exact same time and place. Pierre throws them aside with seeming ease, despite the objections from the laws of physics. Oh, Bartolomeo now bowing and offering his sword in surrender. Very clever. No, he has a hidden knife. He has slashed Pierre across the hand, and now he is taunting Pierre, possibly by telling him that he killed his father years ago. Very nice display of classic villainy by Bartolomeo, who now seems to be having trouble with a certain move, lifting a sword with his foot. He is clearly not prepared for this. I think this move might be out of his wheelhouse. He's trying... There it is. Bartolomeo now back in full swing. He advances on Pierre, who throws him aside. Pierre now has an opportunity to grab a sword. He comes charging back at Bartolomeo. Both men now fighting like lions over the last piece of zebra. Pushing him backwards, Pierre advances. And now, yes! There it is. The strike. The point is awarded to Pierre Desdoux. Both men shake hands for a fight. Well fought. I don't think we've seen the last of these two. Thank you for joining us. We'll see you all next year. No, it doesn't make sense. Just... Why you gotta make things hard?